The DP World Tour enjoyed a triumphant evening at the annual Middle East Sport Industry Awards (SPIA), taking home the prestigious headline accolade for Major Global Sport Event of the Year.
The tournament secured the victory for the 2025 DP World Tour Championship, marking a back-to-back win for the event after collecting the exact same award last year. Supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the SPIA awards have celebrated the region's sports industry leaders, organizations, and campaigns since 2012.
The Major Global Sport Event of the Year category honors large-scale events in the Middle East that demonstrate excellence in execution, impact, and legacy. The 2025 DP World Tour Championship did just that, attracting the highest number of spectators ever recorded for a golf tournament in the UAE. Fans witnessed a dramatic playoff finale where England’s Matt Fitzpatrick defeated Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy to claim the title.
Beyond the star-studded action on the course, the event proved to be a massive commercial and tourism driver:
Sustainability remained a core focus for the championship. The 16th hole saw the return of the Earth Lounge—a hospitality unit entirely powered by hydrogen and constructed from sustainable materials.
Additionally, the tournament hosted the second edition of the Tour’s Supplier Sustainability Awards, a ceremony dedicated to recognizing eco-friendly innovations implemented across the DP World Tour’s global schedule.
The DP World Tour's success wasn't limited to a single trophy. The group also received the Highly Commended accolade in the Sports Organisation of the Year category.
The nod follows a stellar 2025 season that saw a record-breaking 163,000 spectators attend the final two UAE-based Play-off events, alongside significant growth in both sponsorship income and global TV viewership.
“We are delighted to be recognised for the second time running as the Major Sport Event of the Year in the region,” said Freddie Shmeisser, Managing Director, Tournament and Operations, Middle East at the DP World Tour.
“Being awarded prestigious industry awards in areas such as tournament staging, sponsorship activation, digital content and sustainability validates our ongoing commitment to be one of the most innovative rights holders in sport. As our season finale and one of our five Rolex Series events, the eyes of the golfing world descend on the DP World Tour Championship each November and we were proud to deliver another memorable tournament last year – aided by two Ryder Cup stars battling it out down the stretch."
Shmeisser added: "We would also like to thank all those who attended as well as our Title Partner DP World, and all of our various partners and suppliers for helping us to deliver another world-class event that ultimately leaves a positive legacy within UAE and the local community.”
